The SLS Communication Coordinators meetings are designed to be a bridge between the School Library System team and the school librarians in each of the districts and non-public schools that are members of the system. Each district has a designated Communication Coordinator who is required to attend the meetings but all members are welcome to attend. The morning (8:30 am to 11:30 am) will be a "Communities of Practice" meeting, topic to be decided at a later date. The second half of the day (12:30 pm to 3:00 pm) will be the Communication Coordinators meeting.

The SLS Communication Coordinators meetings are designed to be a bridge between the School Library System team and the school librarians in each of the districts and non-public schools that are members of the system. Each district has a designated Communication Coordinator who is required to attend the meetings but all members are welcome to attend. This is for the second half of the day (12:30 pm to 3:00 pm), which will be the Communication Coordinators meeting.

Are you ready for an enriching experience that combines education, inspiration, and a touch of magic? Look no further than our upcoming Professional Development event, featuring the incredible Monique Gray Smith!

Sponsored by STEM and O²CM School Library Systems

Monique Gray Smith: A Beacon of Hope in Education

Get ready to embark on a transformative journey with Monique Gray Smith, a renowned Canadian writer of children's and young adult literature. Her powerful speaking engagements revolve around the pillars of hope, resilience, education, and wellness.

Experience the Magic of Monique's Words

In this captivating event, Monique will seamlessly weave readings from her captivating books into her presentations. Discover the profound lesson that love is a form of medicine, and learn how it can enhance your role as an educator.

Connect, Learn, and Be Inspired!

Monique is more than just a speaker; she's a dynamic force who effortlessly connects audiences with the information being shared and touches their hearts. Prepare to deepen both your learning and the impact of your time together.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a unique educational experience that will empower you as an educator and inspire your students!

Join us for an event that promises to be both enlightening and heartwarming. Together, we'll explore the boundless possibilities of education.

Visit Monique Gray Smith's website

Watch a video with Monique

Listen to a Story Read by Monique

The second meeting of Mentors Across Borders for the 2023-2024 School Year.The program seeks to support new school librarians both professionally and personally in their efforts to become highly effective educators. Research indicates that student learning depends, in part, on constructing a school culture that fosters growth for students and staff alike. We believe that mentors and mentees will learn and grow together in this process. While we are certain that your district provided you with a mentor teacher (not always a school librarian), we aspire to pair you with a mentor with library experience, knowledge and a passion for our profession. The purpose of this program is to connect librarians across "the borders” of their school districts to learn from and support each other while growing a vibrant professional learning network across the region.

We seek to discover new books that should be added to our libraries and classrooms. Each participant will write a blog post review of a total of 8 books via a libguide blog from January through April. Let's crowdsource the best new books in our region!!

The Details:

- One chapter book or two picture book review(s) are worth 1 credit hour.
- You can earn up to 8 credits for this course.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me - hturner@ocmboces.org
PLEASE NOTE: This course is completely online and asynchronous. We will not meet but hours need to be listed for district regulations for Professional Learning.

The SLS Communication Coordinators meetings are designed to be a bridge between the School Library System team and the school librarians in each of the districts and non-public schools that are members of the system. Each district has a designated Communication Coordinator who is required to attend the meetings but all members are welcome to attend.

This title offers pre-service, newly practicing, and seasoned school librarians opportunities for reflection as well as inspiring strategies for enacting four core values of the profession.

The school library profession has been in "crisis" for more than a decade. Educational decision-makers have not been made aware of or sold on the core values of school librarianship and its value to students, classroom teachers, administrators, and the entire school community. Budgetary priorities often do not include school librarians, resulting in a lack of funding and the elimination of many positions, which can cause many school librarians to feel vulnerable and afraid. Guideposts are needed to offer today's school librarians a chance to connect or reconnect with their passion for literacy, learning, and serving that led them to the profession.

Core Values in School Librarianship: Responding with Commitment and Courage provides preservice, newly practicing, and seasoned school librarians with opportunities for thoughtful reflection alongside inspiring strategies for gathering courage and enacting four core values of the profession. It is an important and visionary book that all school librarians should read as they develop in their role as leaders in their schools.

- Guides readers to connect or reconnect with passion and purpose for school librarianship, both of which are essential during times of crisis and change
- Addresses the core values of librarianship with examples of how they are enacted in the school library setting
- Features diverse voices and experiences related to passion and practice of the core values
- Provides opportunities for reflection to improve practice and strengthen commitment to the work of school librarianship

Consider signing up for this book study exploring two intriguing books centered on AI in education. The first book, "AI for Educators" by Matt Miller, offers a teacher-focused perspective on how AI can revolutionize education. It demystifies AI and presents practical ideas for classroom implementation, saving time and enhancing teaching. It provides valuable insights into the future of education in an AI-driven world.

The second book, "The AI Infused Classroom: Inspiring Ideas to Shift Teaching and Maximize Meaningful Learning" by Holly Clark, delves into AI's immediate presence in education. Holly Clark, an experienced educator, explores AI models' strengths and weaknesses, like ChatGPT, and their impact on writing and communication. She emphasizes teaching students to use AI appropriately to enhance learning. AI is a powerful tool but doesn't replace skilled teachers; they are essential in preparing students for an AI-driven future.

Both books offer actionable steps to understand and utilize AI in the classroom. They highlight AI's potential to revolutionize education and stress thoughtful integration alongside skilled teaching. Our Book Study encourages meaningful discussions, preparing educators for exciting AI opportunities in education.

Note: This Book Study is completely asynchronous, allowing flexible engagement. Please disregard times; provided dates are the only relevant scheduling items. Let's embark on this enriching journey together!

Game Changing Gamification

is an innovative and engaging one-day professional development program designed to help educators bring the power of gamification into their classrooms. In this course, you'll learn how to leverage the principles of game design to create more engaging and effective learning experiences for your students.

Throughout the day, you'll participate in a series of interactive workshops and activities that will challenge you to think creatively about how to incorporate game elements into your teaching. Amanda, Heather, and Kat will guide you through the process of designing and implementing a gamified learning experience for your students, and you'll gain practical insights into how to create games that help students learn.

You'll explore topics such as narrative design, player motivation, and feedback loops, all while gaining a clear understanding of how to create game mechanics that motivate students to engage with course content. You'll learn how to create rich narrative experiences that immerse students in the content, making learning more memorable and engaging. You'll also explore the use of game elements such as quests, puzzles, and simulations, which help students apply what they've learned in a fun and engaging way.

As part of the program, you'll have access to a community of like-minded educators who are passionate about gamification in the classroom. You'll have the opportunity to collaborate and share ideas with your peers, all while receiving ongoing support and feedback from our experienced instructors.

Discovery Education continues to empower educators with resources, strategies and tools for creating quality lessons using multi-modal digital resources. For Back-to-School, we are combining all that teachers and students love about the DE ecosystem with new content to keep all learners curious and engaged. Join us this Spring at OCM BOCES to learn about the best ways to utilize all that Discovery Education has to offer as well as exciting updated features, synchronous and asynchronous resources, assignment templates, Ready-to-Use activities, video quizzes, and much more!

RECOMMENDED AUDIENCE: Librarians, Technology Integration Specialists, Lead Teachers, Curriculum. Breakfast and lunch will be provided by Discovery Education.